Today in Comics History, May 30, 1431: The French get started on their Memorial Day barbecue

On this very day in 1431, so a little before my time (i'm merely seven), it's Joan of Arc's birthday execution day! Sorry about that, Mlle. Jeanne, but you didn't leave your actual birth date on record, so you get a celebration of this, your Feast Day, and a hearty wave of my French flag.


Anyway, hope you had a hot party...oh. Yes, I know that's a juvenile joke, but as previously noted, I'm seven.


from "The Rise of Free France" in Real Life Comics #4 (Pines, April 1942), pencils and inks by August Froehlich



Now, as we all know, if we've been paying attention to this blog, Joan of Arc was played by none other than the ethereal Jane Wiedlin in the popular movie-o-scope Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure:



from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure one-shot (DC, 1989), script by Bob Rozakis, pencils and inks by Angelo Torres, colors by Barry Goldberg, letters by Jon D'Agostino
She reprised the role in one of my favorite comic series of all time, Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic:


from Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book #1 (Marvel, December 1991), script and pencils by Evan Dorkin, inks by Stephen DeStefano, colors by Robbie Busch
...a comic book that gave the effervescent Ms. Arc a totally happy ending!


from Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book #12 (Marvel, November 1992), script and pencils by Evan Dorkin, inks by Marie Severin, colors by Robbie Busch and Evan Skolnick, letters by Kurt Hathaway
Anyway, what all did J.d'A. actually get out of being burnt at the stake? She got to be a nice memorial bust in the Paradise Island Museum of Women's Studies (this wing generously sponsored by Ms. E. Candy and the women of Holliday College).


cover of Wonder Woman (1942 series) #36 (DC, July 1949), pencils by Irwin Hasen, inks by Bernard Sachs
The Amazon Hall of Fame, where Wonder Woman is a docent, presents great women throughout history! Marie Curie! Florence Nightingale! Dolly Parton! No, Dolly's not dead yet, but she's just that special.


from Wonder Woman #36; script by William Marston as Charles Moulton, pencils and inks by Harry Peter
Yes, Wonder Woman #36! The one where Diana and tiny girl tot warriors defeat Ares and his evil plot to take over the world with...tiny boy warriors. Beat each other up, kids! COMIC BOOKS!


Well, that wraps that up and OI WONDER WOMAN STOP BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL


Happy Feast day, Joan of Arc! Grab a chicken leg or some sausages from the grill and help yourself to a Bud Light from the cooler.